ACE VENTURA: WHEN NATURE CALLS (Warner Home Video) Jim Carrey
is back in this hilarious sequel to the hit comedy about a detective
who specializes in the tracking down of animals and pets. While
attempting to rescue a stranded raccoon by tying it to his waist
and carrying it between two mountains the animal slips and falls
to its death. Torn up with grief over the loss, Carrey goes into
seclusion and attempts to reach enlightenment. Luckily he doesn't
get very far before he is tracked down by someone who has a job
for him. If you enjoy Carrey's special brand of humor, this will
not disappoint and is up to par with the original. (Christopher
Schanot)

AMANDA AND THE ALIEN (Republic Pictures, 94 minutes) A teenager
falls in love with an alien who has the ability to devour humans
and hide himself in their bodies. She helps him hide from the
FBI and gives him tips on appearing more human. This is poignant,
funny and definitely much better than you'd expect from the plot
description. Seek this one out for some lighthearted fun that
makes aliens seem lovable. (Netta Gilboa)

THE AMAZING PANDA ADVENTURE (Warner Home Video) A young boy
can't really understand why his father has no time for him but
has time to devote his life to saving panda bears in mainland
China. He is sent there on a school vacation and forced to confront
the wilderness as he helps his dad rescue a panda cub being chased
by poachers. Although the panda in question is actually an anamatron,
this is undeniably a great film about wildlife, family bonding
and the differences in American and foreign cultures. Highly recommended.
(Netta Gilboa)

THE AMERICAN PRESIDENT (Columbia Tristar Home Video, 114 minutes)
One of the best movies I have seen in a long time, this film stars
Michael Douglas as the President and Annette Bening as the lobbyist
he meets and decides to date. It's full of gray areas like the
right to privacy from the press and public criticism, problems
between two people who are expected to work together, and
issues involving whether your career or your happiness should
come first. The film made me laugh but it also made me think.
Most presidents have a first lady at the outset. A single president
raises issues about proper behavior that are well worth examining
by watching this. (Netta Gilboa)

AMERICAN SEXUAL REVOLUTION (Something Weird Video, 75 minutes)
This adult documentary (circa 1970) explores the explosion of
adult materials including movie houses, porn mags, strip joints
and adult bookstores. Combining interviews with hard-core sequences
and outdoor footage such as a gay pride march and a look at Times
Square, the film addresses a history of pornography and how morals
and mores change over time. It's fascinating to watch this pre-Deep
Throat look at commercial erotica. Highly recommended for fans
of the adult film genre, those who study history and 1970s cinema
buffs. (Netta Gilboa)

ART AT THE SPEED OF LIFE (Ron English, 85 Chambers Street 5th
floor, NY, NY 10007, 30 minutes) Ron English is a very talented
artist I first discovered accidentally on the World Wide Web.
His painting style combines classic American images with cartoon
characters and pop culture icons to make strong social and political
statements. I was impressed with a series of billboards which
spoof well-known cigarette ads to criticize smoking and cigarettes.
Ron paints these billboards without permission, which violates
a law known as criminal mischief. Ron has even gone to jail for
it.

In another series, he works with black and white photographs
and combines cardboard cutouts with real people and familiar backgrounds
to alter an expected image. English's work is a must for artists
and art lovers, anarchists, teachers and librarians, etc. I found
Ron's art, spirit and guts to be both uplifting and captivating.
You might too. However, I didn't care for some of the songs sung
in the background to promote Ron and preferred the many narrated
segments. Still, very original. (Netta Gilboa)

THE BABYSITTERS CLUB (Columbia Tristar Home Video, 94 minutes)
Designed for teenage girls, this heartwarming film is about a
group of teens who operate a baby-sitting business. They decide
to expand it and try running a summer camp as well. The film confronts
humorous situations and poignant moments including the most positive
media portrayal of a teen with diabetes that I've ever seen. Well
worth seeking out if you ever worked as a baby-sitter or if you
are a fan of "chick" films. (Netta Gilboa)

THE BAND (ABC Video, 65 minutes) Here's the authorized video
biography of the rock group The Band, complete with interviews,
rare TV and concert appearances and commentary by fellow musicians
and colleagues such as Eric Clapton, George Harrison, Ringo Starr,
Al Kooper, Todd Rundgren and Bob Weir. This very thorough look
at The Band spans their early days, their breakup and The Last
Waltz concert as well as their later years without Robertson,
the loss of Richard Manuel and the historic performance at Bob
Dylan's 30th Anniversary Concert. Well done. (Netta Gilboa)

BEST OF THE BEST 3 (Dimension Home Video, 90 minutes) Phillip
Rhee stars in this sequel to the popular martial arts series.
He returns to a racist town in order to meet up with an old friend.
After a black town leader is killed by a group of skinheads, Rhee
has no choice but to get involved when they also come after his
friend. Plenty of great action scenes and a must-see for lovers
of martial arts movies. Does not require having seen the previous
films. (Christopher Schanot)

BEYOND DESIRE (LIVE Entertainment, 87 minutes) William Forsythe,
Leo Rossi and Kari Wuhrer star in this film about an ex-con who
is set up with a call girl whose mission it is to find out where
he hid a large amount of cash embezzled from a casino. This
better-than-average erotic action thriller offers lots of sex
scenes, bullets and plot twists. When the main characters fall
in love it even ends happily. Worth seeing. (Netta Gilboa)

THE BIG GREEN (Walt Disney Home Video, 100 minutes) A new teacher
encourages her class to work as a group in their after hours soccer
team. They learn to travel, get along with each other, overcome
fear, and also that one of their own has considerable talent at
the game. Just the right combination of sports and cute kids without
being overly sappy. Worth seeing if you like films like The
Mighty Ducks. (Netta Gilboa)

BLOODKNOT (Paramount Home Video, 98 minutes) Patrick Dempsey,
Kate Vernon and Margot Kidder star in this thriller about a woman
who lies her way into a family's trust. She pretends to be the
grieving lover of the family's now deceased son and they welcome
her into their home with open arms. Alas, she has evil intentions.
This is starting to be a formula genre, and this film has good
acting but is nothing special. (Christopher Schanot)

BLUE FLAME (Columbia Tristar Home Video, 88 minutes) In this
science-fiction thriller a vigilante cop is hired to track down
two dangerous aliens. He realizes exactly how dangerous they are
when the aliens enter the cop's mind, infiltrate it and start
using his own fantasies as weapons against him. The box describes
this film as "thought-provoking" and it's kind of hard
to disagree. (Netta Gilboa)

BORN WILD (Columbia Tristar Home Video, 98 minutes) Brooke
Shields stars in the finest role of her career as a documentary
filmmaker sent to Africa to get footage of a leopard and its cubs.
The company she works for backs out of the project but Shields
sticks with it anyway and gets the film made in the end. In real
life Shields love animals, interning at a zoo years ago while
she was also a top model. Here she gets the chance to both act
in a meaty role and be around wild leopards. Don't miss this if
you love nature footage. (Netta Gilboa)

BRAVEHEART (Paramount Home Video, 177 minutes) Mel Gibson stars
in this epic saga about a great warrior. This superb film has
spectacular cinematography, and although it runs a bit long you
will not be bored for even a minute. Don't expect the usual Hollywood
happy ending on this one because this is based on real history.
Don't miss it! (Christopher Schanot)

THE BREAK (Vidmark Entertainment, 104 minutes) Tennis is the
theme in this drama about a teenager who wants to be a tennis
pro. His dad hires a former star (played by Vincent Van Patten)
to discourage the boy. However, over time the coach decides the
teen has enough talent to chase the "big time" circuit.
Other stars include Martin Sheen, Rae Dawn Chong, Valerie Perrine
and Ben Jorgensen. Don't miss it if you've ever had conflicts
with your father or like tennis. (Netta Gilboa)

BRIAN WILSON: I JUST WASN'T MADE FOR THESE TIMES (LIVE Entertainment,
69 minutes) The talent behind the Beach Boys is shown here in
an authorized documentary which combines interviews with Brian,
his mom and his brother, studio footage, reflections by record
producers and fellow musicians like Tom Petty, Linda Ronstadt,
David Crosby and Graham Nash who discuss the impact his songs
had on their own development. Alas, although the Smile
period is discussed heavily (an aborted record) and drugs are
mentioned, there is nothing said about Charles Manson, Wilson's
mental state and other issues from the late 1960s/early 1970s
period in his life. Still, this documentary does plenty to chart
Wilson's place in the music scene for those who are unfamiliar
with his work and for those who like it but could never explain
why. One of the few rock documentaries that could have used another
half hour added instead of cut. (Netta Gilboa)

THE COURTYARD (Republic Pictures, 103 minutes) Andrew McCarthy
moves into an exclusive apartment complex in California where
his life slowly goes to hell as he becomes a suspect in a murder
at the complex while the real killer seems to be watching his
every move. This psychological suspense thriller stars Madchen
Amick as his girlfriend and Cheech Marin as the detective investigating
the crime. Good plot and great acting as usual from McCarthy.
(Netta Gilboa)

COVER ME (Playboy Entertainment Group, 94 minutes) A female
police officer goes undercover to catch a serial killer. She poses
as a model for L.A. Erotica Magazine and eventually solves
the case. Made by Playboy films, this stars Elliott Gould, Corbin
bernsen and Playmates Shae Marks and Julie Lynn Cialini. Definitely
a good erotic mystery that will keep you interested until the
end. (Netta Gilboa)

THE CRIMINAL MIND (Columbia Tristar Home Video, 93 minutes)
One brother's a mobster and the other is a district attorney in
this thriller about death, honor and family allegiance. It's full
of dirty cops, paid-off politicians and loose women. Stars Ben
Cross, Frank Rossi and Tahnee Welch. Catch this one on cable or
rent it once. You probably won't need to see this one twice. (Christopher
Schanot)

CRIMSON TIDE (Hollywood Pictures Home Video, 126 minutes) Denzel
Washington and Gene Hackman star in this action thriller about
two men on a submarine team who receive a cryptical message they
are unclear about. They disagree about what action to take and
end up having a mutiny over it as one wants to attack and the
other is sure that would start World War III for no reason. The
film explores race relations, teamwork and the psychological dynamics
and underlying tensions between people who must work together.
(Netta Gilboa)

CRUMB (Columbia Tristar Home Video, 120 minutes) Those of us
who thought Crumb's art was just art will be stunned to discover
all of it comes from his real-life experiences. Named one of the
year's ten best films by almost every critic, this documentary
focuses on the pain and hardships experienced by 60s underground
comic creator Robert Crumb. A very gray and dark film, this ultimately
says more about families than it does about art. Alas Crumb has
chosen to let the film speak for him and claims he hates it, but
it's honesty and passion will make you respect the man even if
the art itself doesn't grab you. Don't miss Crumb if you
like the 60s or if you have a troubled family background. (Netta
Gilboa)

CUTTHROAT ISLAND (LIVE Entertainment, 118 minutes) This epic
drama revolves around three pirate ships whose captains each hold
a third of a treasure map. They scheme and battle to get the other
two pieces for themselves. Geena Davis and Matthew Modine star
in this rare portrayal of a female pirate. Lots of gunfire, cast
members and explosions make this big-budget film look worth the
$90 million dollars it cost to make. Worth seeing even if, like
me, you don't generally care for epic dramas as a whole. (Netta
Gilboa)

CYBER TRACKER 2 (PM Entertainment Group, 97 minutes) Set in
the future, the plot here involves stolen technology which has
been used to create cyborg trackers which are look-alikes for
a real Secret Service agent and his newscaster wife (played by
Don "The Dragon" Wilson and Stacie Foster). The duplicates
commit murders which are shown on TV, forcing the real couple
to become fugitives until they can track down the real bad guys
and expose the conspiracy. (Netta Gilboa)

DANGEROUS MINDS (Warner Home Video) Michelle Pfeiffer stars
in this drama about a naïve white woman hired to teach a
class of "special" students who are short on educational
skills and long on social problems. They name her "white
bread" and proceed to give her the usual hard time. She considers
quitting but decides to rise to the challenge. Well worth seeing
both for its innovative approach to teaching and for its value
as a film. (Netta Gilboa)

DANISH AND BLUE (Something Weird Video, 65 minutes) This 1970
adult film involves an American male who travels to Copenhagen
for a sex-filled vacation. He visits live sex shows, sees a sexologist,
participates in an orgy and slowly rids himself of both his sexual
hang-ups and inexperience. The box claims this features John Holmes
but, if so, he is so young I did not recognize him. You'll have
to watch this for yourself and decide. (Netta Gilboa)

DEAD TO RIGHTS (Vidmark Entertainment, 93 minutes) Charles
Bronson and Dana Delany star in this action thriller about a detective
who does things his own way. His daughter is also a cop and she
becomes the bait for a serial killer while Bronson's character
backs her up. Of course they must clear up their personal problems
before they can work well together. Better than average. (Netta
Gilboa)

DOLORES CLAIBORNE (Columbia Tristar Home Video, 131 minutes)
Kathy Bates and Jennifer Jason Leigh star in this film adaptation
of the Stephen King book. The plot involves a woman the whole
town believes murdered her husband. A decade later the same woman
is found standing over the body of a woman who lies dead. Since
there are no other witnesses, the only person who can save the
woman is her own daughter who ran away a decade ago after her
father died. Will she come forward now and does she even believe
her mother could be innocent? Lots of suspense, but despite great
acting this film is not nearly as good as the book. (Netta Gilboa)

EMPIRE RECORDS (Warner Home Video) Aimed at teenagers, this
film makes you so instantly comfortable with the characters that
it could easily work as an ongoing TV series. Starring Debi Mazar
and a cast of unknowns, the plot involves a local record store
whose management wants to turn it into a chain store franchise.
The employees team up to raise money to save the store. As this
excellent drama unfolds they learn more about themselves and each
other. (Christopher Schanot)

THE ENGLISHMAN (Miramax Home Entertainment, 96 minutes) Hugh
Grant stars in this comedy about two government surveyors sent
to check the height of a mountain. The local townspeople have
a vested interest in having the mountain be a certain height so
they can be put on the map. This is an unusual plot which shows
what people can do if they put aside their differences and work
as a community. Well done. (Christopher Schanot)

EXSTASY (Western Visuals) Robert McCallum wrote and directed
this excellent adult film about a wild woman who marries a lawyer
but can't stop screwing around. She visits a club called Exstasy
for sleazy encounters with strangers. Filmed in San Francisco
and New Orleans sing 35mm film, this has both a strong plot and
big name stars including Tiffany Million, Tom Byron, Kelly Nichols,
Sarah Jane Hamilton and Mike Horner. Lots of group sex scenes,
oral sex and even footage of San Francisco itself. The ending
isn't too believable after her husband catches her cheating and
accepts it, but for this genre the film as a whole rates an A+.
(Netta Gilboa)

FAIR GAME (Warner Home Video) Cindy Crawford and William Baldwin
star in this action thriller that pits ex-KGB hackers against
U.S. police officers and a lawyer. Lots of fires, chase scenes
and destroyed computer hardware take a back seat to a good plot
and surprisingly good acting. The bad guys are trying to steal
900+ million dollars and come prepared to kill anyone standing
in their way. Well worth seeing even if the good guys always win
and the explosions become a bit predictable by the end. (Netta
Gilboa)

FALL TIME (LIVE Entertainment, 88 minutes) Stephen Baldwin,
Sheryl Lee and Mickey Rourke star in this action drama about a
group of kids who get mixed up in helping two career criminals
rob a bank. The kids do not know what they are getting into but
soon learn this is not a game. Unfortunately they do not live
long enough to put to use the lessons they have learned. Worth
seeing, if only for the fact it doesn't have a fake happy ending.
(Christopher Schanot)

FULL BODY MASSAGE (Paramount Home Video, 93 minutes) Nicolas Roeg
directed this unusual film about a wealthy single woman whose
masseur sends in a friend to substitute for him one day. During
the film he massages her while they chat, and in the process confront
each other's beliefs, fears and dreams. By the time the film ends
they have touched each other profoundly and the viewer as well.
A must for those into massage, philosophy or analyzing the differences
between the sexes. (Netta Gilboa)

THE GLASS SHIELD (Miramax Home Entertainment, 110 minutes)
Ice Cube stars in this heart-stopping action thriller about a
black man who is set up by the police to take the fall for a murder
he did not commit. The police then try to cover up and hide what
really happened and attempt to go to any length to be sure the
truth is not revealed. This excellent film raises questions about
how far people go for what they believe in. (Christopher Schanot)

HACKERS '95 (contact http://www.rockpile.com/~security/hackervid.html
$34.95 with a $5.00 discount if you mention the web site when
ordering, 90 minutes) Combining footage from two hacker cons (SummerCon
1995 and DefCon III) with UFO information filmed around Area 51,
this unusual tape also covers a rare press conference for a fed
sting of hackers known as Operation CyberSnare. It's also bold
enough to have criticism from Emmanuel Goldstein's radio show
of the documentary itself. I would have organized the material
differently, perhaps adding more from the cons and making that
a whole tape and then doing a second tape on UFOs. However, the
hacker footage is superb, including everything from interviews
with some of the scene's participants and luminaries like Erik
Bloodaxe (interviewed in Gray Areas issue #6) to some of
the actual speeches by Winn Schwartau and Robert Steele to a portrayal
of some of the problems such cons run into. In one scene, a jerk
who calls himself "Y" is passed out drunk in a hotel's
closet requiring the hotel and police to get involved as well
as dozens of con attendees who stop having fun to deal with Y
and his problems. Y, by the way, was arrested but apparently not
convicted. The state where he lives, Alabama, has no record of
Chris (his real name) being sentenced to probation. Hackers routinely
"nark" on each other when caught. Perhaps that's how
this "problem" ended too. Y was sure caught red-handed
by the camera in this video.

If you're curious but haven't gone to one of these events,
or if you're planning to go and are wondering what to expect,
don't miss this tape. I hope the people who put it together get
enough orders to make a sequel. This is something those interested
in hacking and hackers simply must have in their collections.
(Netta Gilboa)

HARRISON BERGERON (Republic Pictures, 99 minutes) This sci-fi
film is adapted from a three page short story by Kurt Vonnegut.
Sean Austin and Christopher Plummer star in this plot about a
future in which the government has handicapped its citizens to
make them all of average intelligence and physical ability. A
secret group exists which is comprised of intelligent people who
alter others but not themselves and offers Bergeron the opportunity
to join them. Can he destroy them too? Highly recommended for
its gray plot and amazing adaptation of a short story. (Christopher
Schanot)

THE HISTORY OF PORNOGRAPHY (Something Weird Video, 60 minutes)
This documentary explores both pornographic and erotic materials
in countries such as China, Japan, India, Denmark, and the U.S.
Made in 1970, it's surprisingly undated and well worth seeing
if differing morals and tastes interest you, or if you are interested
in erotic art or literature. Although there's no shortage of sexual
images here, this film also has commentary and some redeeming
value. Worth having despite some audio hiss. (Netta Gilboa)

JOHNNY QUEST (Turner Home Entertainment, 60 minutes) For a
limited time only these classic animated cartoons are available
on home video. This tape contains two episodes - "Mystery
of the Lizard Men" and "Double Danger." Animated
by Hanna-Barbera, this series aimed at boys features scientist
Race Bannon, Johnny, Johnny's dog Bandit and his friends. Worth
seeing again if you grew up on these as a kid or if you are a
fan of Hanna-Barbera's animation style. (Netta Gilboa)

JURY DUTY (Columbia Tristar Home Video, 87 minutes) This memorable
comedy stars Pauly Shore as a jobless freeloader who gets assigned
to jury duty for $5 a day. He gets chosen for a sensational murder
trial which requires being sequestered in a hotel room. Shore
then schemes to get his room upgraded and once he does, attempts
to stall and delay the trial for as long as possible. This is
a must see. Co-starring Abe Vigoda, Shelley Winters and Tia Carrere.
(Netta Gilboa)

KIDS (Vidmark Entertainment, 91 minutes) This drama offers
a controversial and realistic look into the lives of a group of
sexually active teenagers in New York City. It's poignant, timely
and totally believable. Highly recommended if you have teenagers,
grew up in New York or want to see what kids today are really
like. Shame on all the people and places that made such a fuss
about kids being able to view this. (Netta Gilboa)

KID'S COMMERCIALS FROM THE GOLDEN AGE OF TELEVISION (Something
Weird Video, four volumes, 120 minutes each) Remember those awesome
commercials you saw as a kid? They had ads for products that no
longer exist, cartoon characters as spokespeople and offered items
as premiums which can only be found today at toy auctions and
antique fairs. Here are four volumes of those old ads in both
black and white and color to help you reminisce, decide which
of your old toys you'd like to find again or to watch with your
kids to explain to them how things were different then and how
toys used to revolve more around imagination than electronics.
Great stuff no matter what your age, but if you're a baby boomer
you'll find yourself saying "Wow, I remember that!"
a lot while watching these. (Netta Gilboa)

LOVE AND HUMAN REMAINS (Columbia Tristar Home Video, 99 minutes)
Two lovers turn into platonic roommates in this cult film and
they explore the many facets of sexuality with other partners.
The films features everything from homosexual experimentation
to bondage along with lots of deep conversations, philosophical
soul-searching and even the work lives of the two main characters.
He's an actor who works as a waiter and she's a book reviewer
who hates to read. Parts of this are well done, but overall it's
nothing special. (Netta Gilboa)

MONEY TRAIN (Columbia Tristar Home Video, 110 minutes) Woody
Harrelson and Wesley Snipes star in this action adventure about
two transit cops in New York City. Having grown up there, I often
rode the subway. Most people pay their fare, ride the trains,
and never think much about how the system works. Besides the superb
plot I was also very drawn into what's shown about how the cops
catch criminals and about how the money is handed and safeguarded.
There's a good balance of scenes involving the job and scenes
involving the character's personal lives. Much better than average,
this is a must to see especially if you've ever relied on New
York subway trains for transportation. (Netta Gilboa)

MURIEL'S WEDDING (Miramax Home Entertainment, 105 minutes)
This comedy involves an average, ordinary girl whose dream is
to have a wedding. Everyone around her tells her she is useless
and she feels getting married will make her someone and give her
new worth. She finally makes a new friend but blows her off to
have a marriage of convenience with someone who is using her for
citizenship. Ultimately she is forced to choose between her fake
marriage and her real friendship. (Christopher Schanot)

NATURE OF THE BEAST (New Line Home Video, 91 minutes) A thief
and a killer meet accidentally in this intense psychological thriller.
Reminiscent of The Hitcher, here the killer follows and
tags along with the thief while leaving a trail of bodies behind
them. Starring Eric Roberts and Lance Henriksen, this film explores
how far a person will go and what he'll endure to get what he
wants. (Netta Gilboa)

THE NET (Columbia Tristar Home Video, 114 minutes) Sandra Bullock
stars in this thriller about a woman whose live is turned upside
down by a group of people who found her on the Internet. Employed
as a computer security consultant, Bullock is shipped a virused
disk which contains a program that allows the user to access backdoors
in systems such as government computers. This must-see gray film
discusses everything from hackers to viruses to the new American
ethic of trusting computers and believing in a false sense of
computer security. While it's unlikely this exact scenario could
happen, the concepts of being stalked over the Internet and having
people tamper with your credit and personal identity touched way
too close to home for me. This is the only film to date to cover
these issues and is to be commended for making the average public
think about privacy rights.

The Net offers very impressive praise for the possible
usefulness of computer viruses and virus writers as well as a
great portrayal of a female computer expert. I loved this so much
I have a poster for it hanging above my desk. (Netta Gilboa)

NEVER TALK TO STRANGERS (Columbia Tristar Home Video, 86 minutes)
Rebecca DeMornay, Dennis Miller and Harry Dean Stanton star in
this erotic thriller about a psychologist who is being stalked.
Far better than most films of its type, the suspects include her
new lover, an ex-cop and the male friend who admits he wants to
sleep with her. Good plot, great acting and a superb script with
strong characters and very well-written lines for them to read.
(Netta Gilboa)

NOW AND THEN (Turner Home Entertainment, 102 minutes) This
woman's film involves four friends who reunite after 20 years.
Starring Melanie Griffith, Demi Moore, Rosie O'Donnell and Rita
Wilson, the film covers both their childhood in the 1970s (using
a great soundtrack!) and their diverse lives as adults. Somehow
making a promise to always be there for each other is easier said
than done, but in this powerful reunion the women bond and overcome
years of distance. Highly recommended if you like any of the actresses
and/or films about women's relationships with each other. (Netta
Gilboa)

OPERATION DUMBO DROP (Walt Disney Home Video, 108 minutes)
An American soldier gets the unusual task of having to replace
the murdered elephant of a local Vietnamese town. This is much
easier said than done and the comedy adventure that follows will
make you glad it's only a movie. Stars Danny Glover, Ray Liotta,
Denis Leary, and Doug E. Doug. This is quite a different portrayal
of the Vietnam war than you usually see on celluloid. Don't miss
it! (Christopher Schanot)

OUT THERE (Paramount Home Video, 98 minutes) UFOs and aliens
are the subject of this wacky comedy which stars Bobcat Goldthwait,
Julie Brown, Jill St. John, June Lockhart and Rod Steiger. Combining
fact with fiction and myth, the plot involves a photographer who
buys a camera at a yard sale which contains mysterious photos
that appear to document a 25-year-old alien abduction. He spends
the rest of the film searching to determine the authenticity of
the photos. Worth seeing if only because it deals with the subject
of UFOs from a totally new and different perspective. (Netta Gilboa)

PARTY GIRL (Columbia Tristar Home Video, 98 minutes) Of particular
appeal to women and to people who go club-hopping, this cult film
explores the life of a library assistant whose life revolves around
the people she dances with at clubs. Made with the participation
and support of major clubs, dj's and club personalities, this
also offers a soundtrack full of top songs and makes the scene
as attractive as possible. I loved the film but the person I saw
it with hated it. Worth seeing if you like to dance and also if
you have no idea what the club scene is all about. (Netta Gilboa)

A PIG'S TALE (PolyGram Video, 94 minutes) Summer camp is the
theme here in this comedy about a group of 13-year-old boys who
share a bunkhouse. It's well done but predictable, perhaps better
enjoyed by those much younger than I. Full of pranks, good over
evil, competition for girls, etc. (Netta Gilboa)

THE PROPHECY (Dimension Home Video, 97 minutes) Christopher
Walken stars in this thriller about a heavenly war pitting angel
against angel for the favor of God. The angel Gabriel is trying
to possess the soul of a recently deceased military genius and
homicidal maniac. It is the job of one angel and a few mortals
to stop him from doing so. Filled with great special effects and
even better acting. (Christopher Schanot)

PROBABLE CAUSE (LIVE Entertainment, 90 minutes) Michael Ironside,
Kate Vernon and Craig T. Nelson star in this riveting thriller
which pits cop against cop as they search for a killer who kills
cops. Good plot, great acting and a surprise ending make this
film a worthwhile rental. (Christopher Schanot)

A PYROMANIC'S LOVE STORY (Hollywood Pictures, 106 minutes) This
is a cross between a comedy and a cult movie. It's about a family
where someone starts a fire and almost everyone comes forward
to take the blame. Starring William Baldwin, Erika Eleniak, Sadie
Frost and John Leguizamo. (Netta Gilboa)

THE RAFFLE (A-Pix Entertainment, 98 minutes) Two men run a
contest to find the most beautiful woman in the world and give
her a million dollars for a date with the winner of their raffle.
The entry fee is a mere $10. Thousands of people respond and the
two partners experience the ups and downs of the corporate world
including IRS seizures, unsupportive press coverage, problems
with their day jobs and love lives, etc. The plot was okay if
a bit long-winded, but be forewarned that on my copy this film's
colors seemed washed out throughout the tape. (Netta Gilboa)

ROOMATES (Hollywood Pictures Home Video, 119 minutes) Peter
Falk and D.B. Sweeney star in this comedy about two men who become
unlikely roommates. This has a heartwarming plot and is great
for all ages. Good supporting cast as well, including Ellen Burstyn
and Julianne Moore. (Christopher Schanot)

[SAFE] (Columbia Tristar Home Video, 119 minutes) Environmentalists
will love this gray cult film about an affluent housewife who
suddenly becomes poisoned by and allergic to the horrors of modern
day living. She can no longer stand to be around her husband,
her home and her neighborhood and must move into a chemical-free
safe house and change all of her daily routines and patterns.
Quite thought-provoking as to whether one should totally surrender
to allergies and to what extent they can be controlled by mind
over matter. (Netta Gilboa)

SEXUAL SECRETS OF MARIJUANA (Something Weird Video, 100 minutes)
This humorous and uplifting 1971 documentary praises pot as a
sexual stimulant. Narrated with a serious tone, the footage ranges
from great to bizarre. There are real interviews with users, fake
interviews with people like porn star John Holmes, clips from
other movies and some sex scenes. Definitely worth seeing and
owning if you smoke pot or are into cult films. This would probably
be good background footage to show at a party. (Netta Gilboa)

SIGHTINGS: THE GHOST REPORT (Paramount Home Video, 57 minutes)
The popular TV show comes to video, and in this episode it examines
ghost reports. There are photographs unexplainable by trick photography
experts, tape recording of channeled voices and testimony from
eyewitnesses. If you're curious about this gray area, this is
a great resource to help you find out more. (Netta Gilboa)

SIGHTINGS: THE UFO REPORT (Paramount Home Video, 57 minutes)
This episode examines rare footage, secret government documents,
eyewitness accounts and newspaper clippings about alien abductions
and the Roswell incident. There is also a guide to UFO hot spots
for those interested in seeing UFOs and aliens firsthand. Whether
or not you believe in UFOs, this video will entertain you and
enlighten you about the "proof" believers have to offer.
(Netta Gilboa)

SMOKE (Miramax Home Entertainment, 112 minutes) Set in Brooklyn,
New York, this poignant series of vignettes focus on the life
of the owner of a cigar and smoke shop and his many friends and
customers. All sorts of gray areas are explored including race
relations, street crime and various forms of theft, crack addicted
mothers, etc. An excellent soundtrack includes music by Tom Waits
and the Jerry Garcia Band. The film stars William Hurt, Harvey
Keitel and Stockard Channing. Recommended for both its unique
plot and style. (Netta Gilboa)

SOMETHING TO TALK ABOUT (Warner Home Video) Julia Roberts, Robert
Duvall and Dennis Quaid star in this film about a wife who catches
her husband cheating on her in a small town where everyone gossips.
She gets only minimal support from her family who want her to
preserve the marriage if only because her father has a business
deal pending with her husband's family. They split up anyway but
end up working things out without the viewer losing interest even
though Hollywood has dished us up this plot before. The film is
billed as a comedy but I'd label it a very serious drama. Either
way it's terrific so you should see it and decide for yourself.
(Netta Gilboa)

THE TAKEOVER (LIVE Entertainment, 91 minutes) Two rival gangs
fight for control of Los Angeles. Alas, two men recently released
from prison stand in their way. Average plot and average acting
render this film nothing special. Think of it as Casino
without the lavish budget. (Christopher Schanot)

THE TIE THAT BINDS (Hollywood Pictures, 98 minutes) Two serial
killers lose their child after leaving her behind in order to
escape the police. They later track her down and attempt to get
her back. The film has a good plot and even better acting by Daryl
Hannah and Keith Carradine but suffers heavily from a lack of
explanation as to why the killers behave the way they do, and
why they choose to involve their child in their crimes. (Netta
Gilboa)

TO DIE FOR (Columbia Tristar Home Video, 106 minutes) Nicole
Kidman stars in this cult film about a wife who longs to be a
television personality. She becomes so obsessed she plots to have
her husband killed when he suggests they have children and she
work a little less hard. It's weird, but sucked me in. Kidman
is superb as the witchy lead character. (Netta Gilboa)

UNDER SIEGE 2: DARK TERRITORY (Warner Home Video) Steven Seagal
stars as the hero against Eric Bogosian as the mad hacker/terrorist
in this action film that takes place on a moving train. I never
saw the first film, but despite the title this one doesn't depend
on it. While much of the action involves guns and knives, Seagal
wins against his enemies using wit and his fists. Very engrossing
and above average for its genre. Even though this is hardly my
favorite type of film I found myself captivated watching it. (Netta
Gilboa)

UNZIPPED (Miramax Home Entertainment, 73 minutes) Models Cindy
Crawford, Kate Moss, Naomi Campbell and Linda Evangelista star
in this documentary about how a designers' new clothes line gets
put together from conception to launch. Isaac Mizrahi stars as
the designer who takes you inside his world, previously seen through
distorted lenses on TV shows like Models Inc. This is billed
as a comedy, but I found it dead serious. If you ever thought
being a model was easy, this film will convince you otherwise.
If you have no interest in fashion then be sure to avoid this.
(Netta Gilboa)

VAMPIRE IN BROOKLYN (Paramount Home Video, 102 minutes) Eddie
Murphy stars as a vampire who travels to Brooklyn, NY to make
a policewoman (played by Angela Bassett) his mate. Lots of makeup
and special effects as well as an accurate depiction of life in
New York City make this film a winner. Directed by Wes Craven,
this delightful comedy merges humor with horror and leaves you
hoping for a sequel. Don't miss this is you are a fan of Murphy's,
Craven's or just enjoy vampire films in general. (Netta Gilboa)

VIRTUAL REALITY (Lightworks Audio and Video, 95 minutes 800-795-TAPE)
Filmed several years ago, this film contains a lecture by Dr.
Timothy Leary about cyberspace, cyberculture and soul-to-soul
communications in the future. Leary is interviewed briefly before
and after the lecture to both update it and put it in perspective
for the viewer. Leary is best known for advocating inner exploration
through drug use, and this film provides good insight into his
viewpoints in the years since he's taken on computer literacy
as a means for individual empowerment. (Netta Gilboa)

VIRTUOSITY (Paramount Home Video, 105 minutes) Denzel Washington
and Russell Crowe star in this stupendous sci-fi thriller about
a virtual reality computer-generated killer who is actually a
composite of 200 known serial killers. Through the invention of
a new technology, the killer is able to come into our world. Now
it is Washington's job to stop him. Great special effects, terrific
plot and acting will have you on the edge of your seat from start
to finish. (Christopher Schanot)

THE WEIRD WORLD OF LSD (Something Weird Video, 90 minutes)
This black and white documentary was made in 1967. Promising terror
and violence on the film's poster, it's very definitely anti-drugs.
This will appeal to fans of cult films like ReeferMadness
as well as collectors of everything from that time period
and people who research drugs. With a title like that though,
I would have hoped for full color light shows and paisley patterns
or at least a two-sided debate between youth and the medical profession.
(Netta Gilboa)

THE WHARF RAT (Paramount Home Video, 88 minutes) Lou Diamond
Phillips and Judge Reinhold star in this action drama about a
convict whose brother, a cop, is killed when he declines dirty
money and payoffs from corrupt cops. It's up to Phillips and a
snooping reporter to bring these dirty cops to justice. Worth
seeing for its better than average acting. (Christopher Schanot)

WHILE YOU WERE DREAMING (Western Visuals Home Entertainment,
88 minutes) This adult film stars Tom Byron, Melissa Monet, Brooke
Waters, Steve Drake and Barbara Doll. The plot involves a female
who writes erotic novels and uses her dreams, fantasies and real-life
experiences to create her work. Production quality on this film
is miles above the average X-rated feature and offers wall-to-wall
sex including a double penetration, anal scenes, lesbian sex,
etc. While possibly of more appeal to males than females due to
the non-stop sex scenes, there was nothing offensive in this
to make a female who likes adult films turn away and the story
line is quite pro-female. (Netta Gilboa)

WINDOW TO PARIS (Columbia Tristar Home Video, 101 minutes) While
I usually shy away from subtitled films, this one is worth making
an exception for. A building full of Russians in Russia discover
a window that opens into Paris, France. It allows them to access
the material goods and culture of another country. The film offers
many comparisons of the two countries as well as a realistic story
about how the buildings residents might cope if this really happened.
Quite unique. (Netta Gilboa)

THE WORST OF TWISTED SEX (Something Weird Video, 60 minutes)
Forty-three trailers are presented here from older adult films
such as Take Me Naked, Censored and All Women Are Bad.
Something Weird offers each of these films in their entirety if
you find one that appeals to you and even as a compilation of
trailers there's much to learn here about the history of adult
films and how they were marketed in the past. (Netta Gilboa)